Community College Leaders Dispute Carnegie Classification

"But not everyone is pleased with the new classification and the way the results shook out. Community college leaders are raising concerns that the methodology isn't well-suited for their institutions and paints community colleges, particularly in high-cost-of-living areas, in a negative light by labeling some "lower access" or "lower earnings." In a letter obtained by Inside Higher Ed, the National Council of State Directors of Community Colleges demanded Carnegie remove the classification from its website and rework the methodology or take community colleges out of it."

"We appreciate the ambition of the new classification and share the aspiration that higher education should be assessed more by outcomes than by reputation alone. But we also fear the potential unintended consequences of reinforcing inequality in institutional prestige, rather than shining a light on the mobility that is central to all our institutions' missions ... To leave this information in the public domain in its current form is potentially harmful to students, families, and our institutions."

Carnegie released the Student Access and Earnings Classification in April to evaluate colleges by low-income student enrollment and graduates' earnings. The classification shifts Carnegie's approach toward assessing student success and aims to recognize institutions, including community colleges, that advance economic opportunity despite limited research activity or doctoral programs. Community college leaders argue the methodology is ill-suited to their missions and disproportionately penalizes colleges in high-cost areas by labeling some as "lower access" or "lower earnings." Two community-college organizations demanded removal or revision, warning the current presentation could harm students, families, and institutions.

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